algary is a busy place. With restaurants and bars opening and closing every day, concerts being performed nonstop, and news developing faster than it can be reported, it's hard to stay afloat. You need a guide. Martiniboys is here to help. Keeping our ears to the ground and our eyes to the blogs, we've collected all the hot buzz that you need to stay informed about your fair city. Whether it be a new store opening or an oil striking, you'll find it here. There's no need to thank us, we're just doing our jobs. Okay, you can thank us.



Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir plays Saturday at the Marquee Room. Although the Calgary band could technically be categorized as a folk band, they're anything but traditional. After the band was thrown together on a week's notice for their inaugural gig, they found themselves unexpectedly popular on campus radio. They tend to combine Delta blues and mountain music with folk, gospel, and rock and roll. Slide guitars, banjos, and stand-up bass anchor the sound, but they're surprisingly edgy. I guess Calgarians don't do anything in a straightforward manner.





Metallica was once the most popular hard rock band in the world, but then the heavy metal craze ended and all of their macho posturing started to look silly. Then came the documentary Some Kind Of Monster, which made it clear that your entire band is comprised of whiny egotists with more attitude than brains. It didn't help that this came concurrently with St. Anger, a monumental abortion of an album and quite possibly one of the worst heavy metal records of all time. You can't blame the band for waiting five years before releasing their next album, this year's Death Magnetic. The album has received some decent reviews, but frankly anything would sound good compared to St. Anger. Either way, their concerts Thursday and Friday at Pengrowth Saddledome will be nostalgia-fests full of kick-ass old material, so you have my permission to go (if you can afford tickets).





The Crystal Method play Wednesday at Tequila Nightclub. All I can say is hmmmm…… I wonder what inspires them to make their music? The Crystal Method were once huge. The Los Angeles electronic duo were frequently mentioned in the same breath as The Prodigy, Faboy Slim, and The Chemical Brothers as progenitors of the "big beat" sound, a typically large dance sound. Nowadays, they're not even the most popular electronic band named Crystal (that would be Crystal Castles), but they can still rock a turntable and get a crowd moving. Take a tip from the group's name, head to Tequila, and get ready for a big sweaty dance party.





Sea shanties. You know, there just aren't enough bands singing em' these days. Great Big Sea is a very notable exception. These fifteen year veterans play mostly within the folk music genre. By that I mean the traditional folk music genre. They have about as much in common with Iron & Wine and Bonnie "Prince" Billy as they do with GWAR (which is to say, not much). You may only remember their cover of REM's "End of the World", but these guys have more than enough traditional and original Newfoundland folk songs to entertain an auditorium full of folkie Calgarians, which is good because they play tonight at Jubilee Auditorium.





I've never been a huge Loudon music fan, but damn he was good on Undeclared. Rufus isn't as good an actor as his father, but his singer/songwriter warble is great for autumnal drives. However, Martha is my - and, presumably, Tom Waits's - favourite Wainwright. Like her brother, Martha has taken a lot of inspiration from Leonard Cohen. If I didn't know any better, I'd say Marth and Rufus are Lenny's kids, not Loudon's. Perhaps Anna McGarricle gets around. Folk adultery gossip aside, you should check out Martha Wainwright Sunday at Theatre Junction Grand if you want to see an impressive vocal range and some quality folk-country tunes.





Friday at Flames Central there is an event called Unbound By Sound. The ChristmasFuture fundraiser features Calgary acts The Matt Blais Connection, Joshua's Habit, and Lindsay Ell, and is hosted by MTV personality Nicole Holness and comedian Ron Josol. The main draw, though, is k-os. Anytime k-os plays, it's a good time. The Scarborough native is known to jump from rap to R & B to rock to jazz without a moment's notice. As such, he carries an accomplished live band that is in itself worth seeing. This event is definitely the highlight of the weekend and it's a good cause, so if you get the chance, you should go.





We all enjoy watching a good film, but in today's culture of the internet and short attention spans, sometimes it's hard to… hey, something shiny. Where was I? Oh, yeah. Tonight at Plaza Theatre is a free program called CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival Best Shorts of 2008 (for a short film festival, it's got a long title). The festival screens hundreds of Canadian and International sort films and attracts delegates from all over the world. This screening will show only the eleven best. It's one night only, it's free, and it's some of the most creative film you'll see all year. There's something about limited time spans that bring out the most wacky and innovative concepts.





I hope you've already cleared your Monday cobwebs, because Tuesday night will be a loud one. Tonight at Hi-Fi Club, there's a line-up full of bad-ass Canadian hard rock and metal bands. Priestess is billed as the headliner, but it could be any of the bands. Mike Heppner formed Priestess after all the members of his previous band, The Dropouts, left to form the Stills (a much wussier band than Priestess). But Priestess is beginning to approach mainstream popularity, opening for such bands as Dinosaur Jr. and Megadeth (which was also formed by a man whose band members abandoned him). Bison B.C. has not only made a splash outside of the Canadian metal scene; they've also found some success outside of the metal market. It's unusual to see skinny-jeaned hipsters rocking out to thrash guitars, but it can sometimes be glimpsed at a Bison B.C. show. And if that's not enough, rock revivalists Flash Lightnin' and Barn Burners are also on the bill. Grow your hair or get a wig; there'll be some serious headbanging.





I have a friend who is obsessed with the Ninja Tunes record label. As a result, I'm very familiar with The Herbaliser, a Jazz hip-hop band from London. Admittedly, if not for my friend, I probably would have no idea how influential and revered they are amongst the electronic and downtempo community. Rather than performing their brand of instrumental hip hop on turntables, live performances include a seven piece band playing everything from saxophone to bass. Expect a very laid back show that may be enhanced with certain herbal substances. You'll have no trouble finding any. The Herbaliser plays Tuesday at The Warehouse.





The 22nd Annual Art Market Art and Craft Sale continues until Sunday at TELUS Convention Centre. If you're the type of person who usually waits until the last minute to do your Christmas shopping and is always stuck in the crowded, disgusting mall on Christmas Eve trying to grab whatever is left on the shelf, then you'll probably want to avoid this event at all costs. But you shouldn't; you're the number one person who should be there. Over 200 mini-galleries and boutiques will be displaying gifts priced from $5 to $5000 in fifty diverse craft categories. There will also be a chance to win a $1500 showcase (which I hope will be delivered by Bob Barker). Imagine how relieved you'll when if you can finish your Christmas shopping and focus on your Christmas drinking. And family and togetherness, I guess.





The Fast Romantics play Friday at the Marquee Room. You may not have heard of this band before, but you will. This Calgary band has started to make a lot of noise (both in the literal and figurative sense) in Canada and beyond. Their bouncy piano pop has earned comparisons to bands like Spoon and Blur (not bad bands to be compared to, if you ask me) and has usually been termed "Brit Pop", although that label makes little sense here. Now's the time to check them out before they blow up. We could have another Arcade Fire on our hands. That would certainly be good for Calgary. Also on the bill are shoegaze band Heat Ray.





Justin Rutledge plays Thursday at the Marquee Room. Toronto's premier alt-country singer-songwriter, Justin Rutledge is essentially Ryan Adams without the rock star pretense and prolificacy (i.e. Heartbreaker-era Ryan Adams). His boozy ballads encourage whisky drinking and pick-up driving (though, on different days, children). They also encourage critical acclaim – Rutledge has been nominated for everything from Juno to Polaris Prize and has racked up a ton of positive reviews in between. Get on some plaid and go see what the fuss is all about.





With the success of musical acts like The Arcade Fire and Feist, people tend too much to think of Canadian indie rock as a scene contained just kilometers from the US border. But Toronto and Montreal aren't the only Canadian cities creating great, critically acclaimed, and yes, hip music. There is a double bill Wednesday at Canmore Hotel that should prove this. Two Hours Traffic have crafted such strong power pop songs that they've made a fan (and manager) out of Joel Plaskett, and have been compared to Nick Lowe and Big Star. Meanwhile, The Danks have a talent for writing catchy hooks that can barely be matched. They've played everything from Pop Montreal to North by Northeast. Oh, and both bands are from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Yeah, you read that right.





Sometimes Christmas is the perfect excuse to do things you actually want to do and pretend you really have to do them for other people. Such is the case with the Stocking Stuffers for Food Lovers Foodie Tour, happening today and next Monday. The tour starts at Chinook Centre's Centre Court and progresses to Williams Sonoma, Mise en Place, Merlo Vinoteca (Calgary’s only all-Italian wine shop), A Touch of Italy, Il Sogno, Lina’s Italian Market, The Cookbook Co. Cooks, Metrovino and Brulee Bakery, and finally ends up back up at Chinook Centre. It's a fun way to get to know the city a little better, stock up on some good grub and oh yeah, that's right, pick up some Christmas gifts along the way.





If there's anything that the success of YouTube has taught us, it's that people like to laugh at other people's embarrassment. The Found Footage Festival takes place today and tomorrow at Plaza Theatre. The pop-culture phenomenon has already been a hit in New York City, Chicago, and all over North America. Now Calgarians finally have the opportunity to laugh at footage of idiots doing idiotic things. These clips were found at garage sales, thrift stores, warehouses, and dumpsters and edited down into a hilarious hour long program. Hosts Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher (writers at The Daily Show and The Onion provide "commentary" (which is usually just sarcastic jabs at whatever is happening on screen. If you've always wanted to see an instruction video on how to toilet train cats (and who hasn't?) then you shouldn't be anywhere else this weekend.





Many wine drinkers crave the best, but few have dared to splurge and actually buy those bank-breaking French wines from Bordeaux. It's a scary realm to dive into. Do you really want to give up a week's pay to have a couple sips of great wine? But now you can enter into uncharted territories and not take on a dishwashing job on the side. Bistro Saint Germain is hosting a food and wine party tonight featuring the glamorous wines of Bordeaux. Fittingly, it's called Affordable Bourdeaux. It's $135 per person which includes wines of Bordeaux, dinner, tax, and gratuities. You also get to learn about pairing wine and food together and French wines that you can buy that are relatively inexpensive but are still great wines.





Commercialism comes early this year. An event called Absolutely Art Central takes place tomorrow at Art Central. Over a month and a half before the big day, the venue is spreading the holiday spirit (i.e. selling stuff). If you are someone who usually waits until the last minute to do your Christmas shopping and is always stuck in the crowded, disgusting mall on Christmas Eve trying to grab whatever is left on the shelf, then you probably will want to avoid this at all costs. But you shouldn't; you're the number one person who should be there. Close to twenty shops, galleries and studios will set up shop for your perusal. The goods here will be much more creative and original than anything you'll find in a mall (that is unless you shop at the one-of-a-kind-art-and-fashion-store), so you'd be best off getting your shopping done now. Live music will be played (likely of the Christmas variety) and holiday cheer will be had by all. And by that I mean, refreshments and treats.





Why Chris, why? Like most children of the '90s, I had a big grunge fan. But where most were from the cult of Cobain, I was always more of a Chris Cornell man. He's playing tonight at MacEwan Hall, but I'm not going to go. Why? I don't think I can take that kind of disappointment. My nostalgia-loving heart can't take it. I was willing to forgive Cornell for Audioslave. It's okay, we all make mistakes. Even his misguided acoustic cover of "Billie Jean" was excusable. But working with Timbaland? C'mon Chris, you were in Soundgarden for fuck's sake! If early '90s Chris Cornell saw what you were doing now, he would go the Cobain route. The new Timbaland collaborations sound like the most vapid of adult-contemporary drivel. I'm sorry Chris, but it's over. R.I.P Soundgarden.





Like a frat boy during pledge week, Lucinda Williams forces people to drink. Her brilliantly boozy alt-country ballads and haunting voice drive hordes to the bottle, in a good way. That may be a bit of a tough way to begin the work week, but regardless it will be a great show when the country goddess performs tonight at Jack Singer Concert Hall. Lucinda Williams is one of the many examples of innovative, original, and well crafted country music that never manages to catch the mainstream. If modern country stations played her rather than Toby Keith and Big and Rich, country wouldn't get so much slack.





With the success of musical acts like The Arcade Fire and Feist, people tend too much to think of Canadian indie rock as a scene contained just kilometers from the US border. But Toronto and Montreal aren't the only Canadian cities creating great, critically acclaimed, and yes, hip music. There is a double bill Saturday at University of Calgary that should prove this to you. Hey Rosetta! hail from St. John's, Newfoundland and they ascribes to the philosophy that music should bare your soul. Or at least your psyche. Perhaps your shoulders. Their emotional indie pop songs have been compared to the likes of Jeff Buckley. Meanwhile, Charlottetown's Two Hours Traffic have crafted such strong power pop songs that they've made a fan (and manager) out of Joel Plaskett, and have been compared to Nick Lowe and Big Star. Not bad if I do say so myself.





Bicycle couriers still exist? Apparently they do, because Friday at Broken City, there is an event called Courier Prom 2: The Ball. The event celebrates everything to do with courier-culture (if that's a thing). For starters, there will be tricycle races on the rooftop patio, which should sell you already. But there's also the World Premier of The Courier Always Bites Twice, billed as "the best courier zombie ever made, ever" (I'd imagine that's a true claim. And if that's not enough, there are three bands playing: Nark-Ass Tricks, The Vidal Sassoons, and MX Missile. Grab your bike and wheel on over there.





Calgary sure loves its roots rock and alt-country. Exclaim! Magazine realizes that fact and it has brought its Wood, Wires and Whiskey Tour to Alberta for three nights. Headlining the festivities is Jason Collett, the sometime Broken Social Scene guitarist known for his gentle melodies and Dylan-influenced folk. By the way, who isn’t a sometime B.S.S. guitarist? Are you one? Probably. Also on the bill are Rock Central Plaza, Rebekah Higgs, and Zeus. They play today at the Canmore Hotel, or if you don't want to make the trip, tomorrow and Friday at Liberty Lounge.





For those of you unfamiliar with slam poetry, where have you been for the last twenty years? From November 5 to November 9, Calgary will be hosting the 2008 National SLAM! Competition. Hosted by Golden Beret winner Sarah Murphy, the festival will pit 12 teams of 4 against each other, ranging from Toronto to Calgary to Halifax. Poets will read 3-minute poems and set themselves up for judging by the audience based on both the poem and the performance. It's about time literature was democratized, don't you think? Maybe I've just got democracy on the brain. In addition to the SLAM performances, there will also be workshops, discussions, and public forums. It's everything you wished poetry would be back in first year university. The event takes place at John Dutton Theatre.





The Banff Mountain Film Festival is now well underway. If you've never been before, you'll know that it's about more than just cinema (although it is quite dedicated to cinema). The festival is a chance to get out, explore the mountains, and catch some of the highest quality art (not just film) that Alberta has to offer. Over fifty films will be screened at the festival. On offer today is a program called "Radical Reels", a showcase of extreme sports themed films. Experience skiing, climbing, speed-riding, and mountain-biking from the comfort of your cushy movie theatre seat, then if you're feeling up to it, venture out and try it yourself. You are in Banff after all. The festival continues until November 9.





The Tiger Lillies are the best anarchic macabre punk-cabaret virtuosos that you or I will ever know. With a lead singer that sings like a castrati (I don't know what that is, but I bet it's spicy), opera training, an accordion, and David Byrne as a fan, it's no wonder this band (if you want to call them a band) has a huge cult following. Halloween is rapidly approaching, and this stop on the Tiger Lillies' 7 Deadly Sins Tour is the perfect way to celebrate. Don't commit the sin of missing one of the three shows (one of the lesser known deadly sins) today until Saturday at Theatre Junction Grand.

If you're looking for more Halloween debauchery, check out Martiniboys.com Calgary Halloween Guide '08





Wayne Brady is performing tonight at Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. I honestly wonder what a Wayne Brady show would be. Will he be doing comedy? I don't think so; he was on Whose Line is it Anyway?, but let's face it, he was never really there to tell jokes. Will he be hosting a game show? I doubt it. Singing then? Maybe. After years of dragging down Whose Line with the constant need for singing games (you know it's true), Brady has put out an R&B album, devoting himself exclusively to singing. At least that's more honest.





Some people don't respect mash-ups and remixes for their use of prerecorded rather than original material. But let's be honest here; just how much music is actually original? Even musicians like The Beatles and Bob Dylan were working with preexisting musical conventions and recordings and reworking them with their own new spin. Let's not denigrate acts like Girl Talk and tonight's act Soulwax for their dominant mode of creative output. Just because they're doing it with turntables rather than guitars doesn't make the music any less authentic. Check out Soulwax tonight at Warehouse Nightclub if you don't believe me. You'll see that mashups are indeed an art. I'm sure Andy Warhol would agree.





What can I say about Bob Dylan that hasn't already been said? There's been more written about Dylan than about any other musician ever (I can't prove that, but I'm sure it's true). The man is a music pioneer, a genius, a living legend. If given the chance, you go see him live, no matter how old he is. Sure, his voice may not be what it once was and his songs are performed in sometimes unrecognizable rearrangements, but it's not everyday you get the chance to see a legend. Granted, he is on a Never Ending Tour, so you probably will get another chance, but I'd say go now. You want this phrase in your anecdote repertoire: "I saw Bob Dylan play." He's performing at Pengrowth Saddledome tonight and you should be there.





It doesn't happen often, but a Calgary musician is getting big on the international stage. His name is Chad VanGaalen and unless you've been entirely avoiding all Alberta publications and media, chances are you've heard of him before. The Chad has made a name for himself despite recording in his basement with very little budget, playing nearly every instrument himself, and hand-drawing the liner notes. People have noticed. Not only was he signed to the prestigious sort-of indie Sub Pop label, but he was also nominated for the Polaris Prize, given to the top Canadian album of the year. Albeit that was last year, but since then he's been playing to larger and larger crowds. Go see him before he gets way too big and cheer a little extra hard because he's from Calgary. Chad plays tomorrow at Uptown Stage & Screen





When you think of Bob Saget you probably think of the wholesome doofus persona that he cultivated on Full House and America's Funniest Home Videos. But the father figure you knew and loved has changed his ways. He now has a one-man comedy show where he swears, screams, talks dirty, and generally makes George Carlin look like Mister Rogers (may they both rest in peace). Yes, I am talking about Danny Tanner here. Seriously, it's like he's morphed into Pete Doherty before our very eyes. Little R.T. would have been devastated. Check out the new Bob Saget as he performs Saturday at Jack Singer Concert Hall.





Yes, Stephen Malkmus was in Pavement. No, he's not going to play any Pavement songs. But you should go see him in concert anyway. His latest album with the Jicks (Real Emotional Trash for those of you keeping score) is among his best work with or without Pavement. If you're a fan of guitar music, this is your album. But don't expect solos the same way you'd expect them at a Metallica show. Solos are here to add depth to the songs, as part of their very foundational structure; they're not just there to show off. Still, it's great to see live. In case you can't tell, I think you should go to his concert tomorrow at Warehouse. Also on the bill are the much blogged about Blitzen Trapper.





Starting today is University of Calgary's Don Juan in Chicago. You can always expect modern adaptations of old classics from student theatre. What you can't always expect, though, is consistency. This could be either be great or it could terrible. Only time will tell for sure. Don Juan in Chicago, as the title suggests, finds the thirty year old Don Juan living in Chicago and learning a lot more about life and love than in the original tale about a Spanish nobleman who must have a sex with a different woman every day in order to live forever. It didn't really work for Wilt Chamberlain, so why should it work for Don Juan? The production contines at The Nickle Arts Museum until November 1.





No one does spoken word quite like Henry Rollins. Once the lead singer of Black Flag and The Henry Rollins Band (what a coincidence), old Hank now hosts his own show and tours as a spoken word artist, discussing politics and being a profession badass. If you want to hear serious political discussion with as many four-letter words as you can handle, this is where you want to be. This is easily the only political monologue you'll attend this year where there's a chance that you'll get your ass kicked in the parking lot. If that appeals to you, you should be at the Jack Singer Concert Hall tonight.





Canada's troubadour hero, poli-folk provocateur, and sideburn king, Neil Young is a force to be reckoned with. At age 62, old Shakey shows no signs of quitting and he can still rock out like it's 1974. Rumour has it he also has thousands of unreleased tracks that will probably find release (knock on wood) years after he gets to rocking in the next world. You know what a Neil Young show will be like: stellar folk songs mixed with dirty rocking blues songs and an audience full of nostalgia-seekers. But it doesn’t matter what I say. It's Neil Young. So go. That's all there is to it. Neil plays Sunday at Pengrowth Saddledome.





Unless you've been living under a rock on mars with your eyes closed and fingers in your ears while yelling "La La La. I'm not listening," Feist has been unavoidable over the last year. From the overwhelming breakaway success of her sophomore album The Reminder to the incessant iPod commercial featuring her song, "1234", it was hard to go anywhere without hearing about the pint-sized singer-songwriter. Though, of all the ubiquitous chanteuses in the world, this one is most worthy of the adulation. She plays Pengrowth Saddledome on Saturday night. As a bonus, Canada's troubadour laureate, Hayden opens. Expect scruff-tinged strumming, whimsy, and audience swoons.





Though you're inherently opposed to word fun, I'm a blurbist and, as such, appreciate the facile misspelling of Slightly Stoopid's name. I also grew up in the suburbs, so I appreciate Slightly Stoopid's 2004 record, Acoustic Roots: Live and Direct. With its titular acoustic guitars, playful picking, and nods to Sublime, it became a favourite for campfire aping. The only time I saw this California combo live, they ended the gig with a couple of fantastic, arpeggio-heavy acoustic selections. Hopefully, they'll do the same tonight at the Warehouse. Otherwise, expect an evening of mélange rock with winks to funk, Caribbean, MOR, and everything in between.





The best Ukrainian gypsy cabaret art punk band in the history of Ukrainian gypsy cabaret art punk, Gogol Bordello play MacEwan Hall tonight. Fronted by friend of Madonna, occasional actor, muse, and moustache enthusiast, Eugene Hutz, the Bordello is a Brooklyn-based collective. Known for raucousness and ebullience, they have been destroying clubs and theatres around the world. I barely missed them on a boat in Budapest and I've been kicking myself ever since. MacEwan may not be a Hungarian boat, but you can expect combers of aural joy. I can't say this enough: go!





In these days of plenty for televised dance challenges, urban dance has at last enjoyed mass media attention. While its ballet-brethren has long endured a dismissive "high art" tag, urban dance has a more accessible and palatable appeal. Although, the similarities are marked and the divide much closer than it would seem, this style of stage motion has at last begun to achieve traction. From tonight until Saturday Fluorescent: Lit from Within takes over Vertigo Theatre. Following up the successful Slammenberry Jam, Blue Collar Dance and choreographer, Saxon, present this will-be-frenetic evening.





I hope you like Canadian music, because I have a fantastic double bill of homegrown talent to tell you about. Both Toronto's Born Ruffians and Montreal's Plants and Animals have been making waves both in Canada and international. Both seem ready to break out at any second. Sure, we know about them, but once your American friends (or Pitchfork) start telling you about the newest up-and-coming band, you want to be able to tell them you've already seen them in concert. If you want to stay ahead of the hipness curve (which I think was first posited by Adam Smith), then get thee to The Warehouse tonight.





The Wrecking Ball is an attempt to overtly use politics as the basis for theatre. In light of the two looming elections, there's certainly no shortage of material. Organizers asked a number of acclaimed Albertan playwrights including Ked Cameron, Neil Fleming and Ellen Close to write short plays with overtly political themes, but only gave them a few days to do so. Then directors such as Stephen Hair, Simon Mallett and Stacie Harrison were chosen to direct. After a few short rehearsals, readings of the plays will be delivered for audiences hungry for political theatre. Expect provoking themes, Verfremdungseffekt, and the obligatory fuck you to Stephen Harper's philistinic election campaign. The one-night only event takes place tonight at Jack Singer Concert Hall.





Although Alex Cuba's songs are in Spanish, this does not take away from the connection you feel when you see him perform live. Cuba (a stage name, naturally) combines Latin and Jazz influences to create an expert mix of virtuosic guitar music and gentle Spanish melodies. And although he seems like a world musician, he is actually Cuban-Canadian, so you can feel a sense of national pride when you see him do his thing. Even if you've never heard of Alex Cuba, you should check out this show as it's sure to be a highlight of the Calgary concert calendar. Go see the man with the trademark afro and sideburns Saturday at the Grand Theatre.





The biennial Mountain Standard Time Arts Festival will make you feel avant-garde and contemporary. Either that or it will make you feel like a pretentious douchebag. Galleries, art centres, and public spaces throughout Calgary and Lethbridge will showcase over 30 performative artists in more than 25 events. In case you're not familiar with the "performative" term, it refers to spoken word, dance, film, culture jamming, and anything else you might associate with Yoko Ono. There will also be exhibitions, panel discussions, and workshops to occupy you. Lucky for you, this festival continues for a long time, so you can feel free to meander around at will. Chances are you'll catch something. The festival progresses from today until October 17.





You like a Ron Sexsmith song. Everyone does, even if they don’t know it. His music, though not Nick-Drake-ubiquitous, shows up on myriad soundtracks, on public radio, and in Second Cup. You’ve heard it, you like it, Chris Martin likes it (although I'm not sure that's an endorsement), almost every other musician you’ve ever heard of likes it. I heard Bob Dylan play a Sexsmith song on his Theme Time Radio Hour show. If that's not a sign of artistic approval, I don't know what is. So go to the show, drink a glass of wine, bob your head, and buy some merch. You want to support a nice Canadian boy, don't you? Sexsmith plays tomorrow at Theatre Junction Grand.





Silent Bob (aka Kevin Smith) was appositely taciturn for a few years, but loquaciousness eventually took hold; he came of age in the 1990s, so irony is excusable. Bob - well, Smith - built a career on eloquently profane films, but has lately emerged as a raconteur of Spalding-Gray-ish proportions. Aside from his addictive, sort-of-weekly free podcast (SModcast), he occasionally tours the world conducting Q&A sessions. Tonight, he brings his shtick to Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. Incidentally, several years ago I gave up my Toronto Q&A tickets to go to a Hayden gig. The show was great, but Hayden has been back about five thousand times since then. Smith hasn't. Hayden's not in Calgary tonight, so you have no excuse.





Alice Cooper plays tonight at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. Would anyone object if I just filled this Radar with Wayne's World references? We're not worthy! Alice Cooper could be one of the many godfathers of punk rock, attaining the tools from bands such as The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Yardbirds. Schwing! Renowned for his gory live performances, it still boggles minds that the band has yet to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Petitioned numerous times by fans, Alice Cooper is yet to be recognized. But he's undeserving anyway. Not! Do you think I'll miss this concert tonight? Yeah, and monkeys might fly out of my butt. You would have probably understood that better sixteen years ago. This is worth going to, if only to see "Feed My Frankenstein" performed with all the fitting pyrotechnics, lights, and costumes. Alice Cooper isn't much for subtlety.





In the 60s Andy Warhol continued to make headlines in both the art world and the real world with his flamboyant personality, innovative pop art, and just by being one weird fuckin' dude. In 1968, Warhol formed The Factory, his New York City studio that doubled as a den for some of the most lively, well-attended, and weirdest parties the world has ever seen. Now, forty years later, his vision is being recreated. Tomorrow, Artlife Gallery will present its second Factory Party, a recreation of Warhol's legendary shindigs. The event will feature art, video, sculpture, musicians, and photographers, some of the best that Calgary has to offer. Presumably there will also be some substances not fit for mentioning here. No word yet on the resurrection of Nico.





Shad is the ultimate underdog success story, even if his success is still in progress. The London, Ontario emcee, originally born in Kenya to Rwandan parents, grew up with very little money, but still managed to make two albums that have earned a ton of critical validation. His first album, When This Is Over was entirely self made and financed with a $17,500 prize from an urban radio station. His newer album, The Old Prince was nominated for a Juno and the most coveted of all Canadian music awards, the Polaris Prize, which ignores stature for pure musical ability and inherent merit (try and say that five times fast). Shad will perform Friday at the Gateway. Expect socially conscious lyrics typical of the Canadian hip hop scene, catchy beats, and the occasional glimpse of his quirky sense of humour. Also in the bill is the Vancouver indie-rock band Hey Ocean.





In case you don't know much about this Montreal indie-rock trio, let me help you out: they're not wolves. Now that we've got that out of the way, we can talk about We Are Wolves's music. These guys are the definition of an "art school band". Both Alexander Ortiz and Vincent Levesque are originally from the visual arts world and they use that sense of experimentation to create a raw, animalistic sound that fits their music to a tee. The exact genre of their band, according to third member Antonin Marquis, is "a post-punk landscape with analogue trees. Like rock after the postmodern explosion". That clears that right up. We Are Wolves play tomorrow at The Warehouse.





God Made Me Funky are one of those bands that you've never heard of one day and the next day you can't go anywhere without hearing their name. But the Toronto band ("collective" is probably a better name) has been moving crowds since 1996. Originally just a live ensemble, the band is comprised of a diverse array of musicians from classically trained Trumpeters to Street-Schooled Rappers, all of whom share the same vision: Funk. These guys are good on record, but in order to get the full GMMF experience, you've got to see them live. These guys know how to bring the energy and get your feet moving; to them, it's more important than the music itself. But that's not to say the music isn't good. This is the best funk you'll hear since Parliament. If you're ready to dance to some stellar musicianship, you've got to check them out tomorrow at the Drake Inn.





Yesterday I told you about the East Side Studio Crawl, but if you don't live in the Ramsay district, you've still got plenty of opportunity for a jam-packed art weekend. Calgary Artwalk 2008 is a unique opportunity for the general public to visit galleries and studios all over the city for the low price of zero dollars. There's been quite an effort in recent years to cultivate the Calgary arts community, and this is a great opportunity for art aficionados and regular Joes alike to check out what the city has to offer. People need to stop looking elsewhere for their culture when they can get it right at home. There's more to Calgary than the Stampede. Okay, polemicizing over. The event will feature more than 25 participating galleries all over the city, over 500 artists, and over 1000 artworks, including a number of site-specific installations. I dare you to try and see them all. The Artwalk takes place Saturday and Sunday.





They say that art is supposed to speak for itself, and often multiple interpretations can be beneficial for the work. But sometimes you just want to know what the artist was thinking, y'know? The East Side Studio Crawl this Sunday will break the rules and allow you to discuss art with the tortured souls behind it. Studios throughout the Ramsey district of Calgary will open their doors to high culture connoisseurs and uncultured philistines alike. Artists will field questions about how the state of society affects their artistic vision and whether they chose their paints because of their pretty colours. You never know who'll show up to these things. It really is an interesting opportunity that you should act on if possible.





I know they would like you to think otherwise but Elliot Brood is not actually a person. Really, I speak the truth. It's actually a three-piece band from Toronto that consists of a Mark, a Casey and a Stephen. If you did confuse them with a person, go out and listen to some of their music, because obviously you need a brush-up. You'll see this buzzed-about alt-country trio is refreshingly good, and quite interesting. The drummer uses a giant suitcase instead of a bass drum. And add to the country feel of their first LP, the band recorded it entirely in an abandoned slaughterhouse. If you listen closely, you can hear the ghost's of sheep bahh-ing. What are they going to do next? Play a good concert? Crazy! Elliot Brood plays tomorrow at the Warehouse.





Punk stalwarts, Bad Religion, continue to doll out the three chord socio-political tunes, chastising religion, King Richard I, and quitters. Now 28 years since their inception, the California-based punk rock band haven't given up the good fight. These guys write some of the most bitter left-wing lyrics you'll ever hear, but unlike many of their peers over the years they opt not to scream. Instead, the lyrics are delivered with some of the hookiest, catchiest, most melodic approach that you'll ever hear in punk rock. You can trust these guys; they're no dummies. Lead singer Greg Gaffin holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University and, when he's not playing concerts, teaches life science at UCLA. Try and say that about Johnny Rotten. Always a good time, Bad Religion will play tomorrow at Flames Central.





You've got to support local Alberta music, you've just got to. Alberta has a vibrant music scene, mostly folk and blues, but it could be a lot bigger on the world stage, or even on the Canadian stage. Tomorrow at the Stan Rogers Stage in Centennial Park you can see it on a Canmore stage at the Canmore Indie Music Festival. From 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. a whole slew of local musicians will take the stage. This is a good chance to see what the Calgary area has to offer in the way of music. Performers include: Jamie McLaughlan, Lori Reid, Andy Sills, Jana Finkbinder, and 15-year old folk prodigy Sam Bailey. This year there will also be an Art Garden where you can check out even more local artistry. Admission is free, but donations are accepted and suggested.





Don’t go breaking my heart by not attending Elton John's concert at Pengrowth Saddledome tomorrow. He’s sure to crocodile rock your socks off so make sure to wave your candle in the wind with enthusiasm. You know, like a rocket man! Can you feel the love tonight? Hold me closer tiny dancer. Um…that guy from the Tommy with the big shoes. Ok, I'm out of Elton John references. Come see the man bang out some piano ditties with his signature ballad sensibility, his signature glam fashion, and his signature lyrics (okay, Bernie Taupin's signature lyrics). How could you not go to this concert?






Carlos Santana has honed a style that, if you've ever liked it, you never get sick of. He is the anti-trend. A true classic, you could say. The man is more popular, if not more so, now than he was in his heyday over thirty years ago. His slick Spanish guitar riffs make the perfect background music to a warm summer supper party or any event at all really. Just listen to "Black Magic Woman" or "Oye Como Va" and try not to hum along. And if you have a guitar in your hand, try not to jam along. The merging of Spanish guitar and blues make it the perfect music to practice along with. Catch this legend while he can still talk and tour. He plays tonight at Pengrowth Saddledome.





A group of unlikely music industry darlings, these former visual artists are tight with Bowie and have found a fan in Mos Def. TV On The Radio's 2006 album Return to Cookie Mountain attracted many powerful tastemakers including the always ubiquitous Pitchfork Media. I remember when it first dropped and all of my hipster friends were raving about the album as if they had just discovered the next greatest band. Then not long after that, everyone was raving about the thing, and suddenly it wasn't as hip as it once was. But the hype has been building for the soon to be released Dear Science,. At this show Tuesday at MacEwan Hall, you'll probably get to hear some of the new stuff, along with old favourites like "Wolf Like Me" and "Staring at the Sun". Expect plenty of electro, beat boxing, and free jazz sounds as the basis to their Beat-like lyrics.





There's a lot of interest in revitalization of Alberta's art community as of late. As a result, the province's minister of culture and community spirit has declared September 6 (this Saturday) Alberta Arts Day. More than thirty communities across the province will host various Arts Days events. Calgary's will feature Jubilee Auditorium performances by some of the city's leading performing arts groups in addition to art installations, dancing, painting, reading, and just about anything else that could be slapped with the "arts" tag. If all goes according to plan, it'll just be a matter of time before Alberta is renowned as a world-class arts city. It's still developing, but this is a great start.





Lee "Scratch" Perry is probably one of the coolest 72 year olds you'll ever see. The legendary Jamaican performer invented an entire genre (dub, in case you're wondering) way back in the late '60's and early '70's and hasn't stopped pushing the limits since then. I saw him in a rare show in Toronto, and he performed the whole show with a number of flaming joints sticking out of his hat. That man likes to smoke the ganja! Here's what to expect from a Lee "Scratch" Perry concert: an ultra-tight band playing relaxed-yet-claustrophobic reggae rhythms while Perry sings over top with an echoing megaphone. You should go if, for no other reason, to see a man who has worked with both The Clash and Bob Marley. He plays this Thursday at The Urban Lounge.






BBQ on the Bow Festival is more than just barbeque, it's the best barbeque that Alberta has to offer. Cookers will square off against each other to create the best sauce and best ribs that can possibly be made. And then you benefit by getting to eat the competition foods until you pass out from pure gorging enjoyment. In case you regain consciousness, there's also some live entertainment including a talent search, children's performances, and blues music. But let's face it, you're there for the ribs. The festival takes place Saturday and Sunday at Eau Claire Market. Sounds like a pretty kick-ass way to celebrate the long weekend.





Anglophiles rejoice: Oasis finally returns. Do you remember when (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? broke and everyone was walking slowly down halls and blowing off Sallys? That was great. Noel, Liam, and those two other guys – neither of whom are named Bonehead – bring their anthemic Brit-pop to Pengrowth Saddledome this Saturday. Say what you will about massive career declines, but you’ll get shivers as soon as “Wonderwall’s” acoustic strums begin. Granted, every open-mic night guitar guy ever has played the song, but it'll still be special. One of the most prolific jean-jacket strummers in the history of alt- country, Ryan Adams, along with his stellar back-up band, the Cardinals, opens this so- disparate- it- might- work gig.





Punk Rock is a relatively fickle genre. It's hard to obtain lasting success because once you gain some money and fame you lose the anger that got you there. But there are a few exceptions, most of which are bands that play a style of punk more influenced by ska and pop, two genres that are much brighter than punk. They may not be as exciting, but they allow for some longevity. Just ask Green Day or Rancid. Or ask Lagwagon. The Santa Barba group have been recording and performing on and off for 18 years, and have just released their latest EP I Think My Older Brother Used To Listen To Lagwagon (a fucking fantastic name for an album). Now's your chance to see them this Thursday at The Warehouse.





Yes, professionalism can be beneficial in staging a show. But it's not always desired. For pure spontaneity and excitement, it's hard to beat a good improv show. You can't guarantee the quality of the show, but that just makes it that much more entertaining. You never know whether someone is going to freeze up on stage or completely bomb. On the other hand, Loose Moose Theatre Company has a reputation for excellence and consistency, so you can be fairly sure you'll have a good time tonight at the Ultimate Improve Championship at Broken City. There are winners and losers, but the competitive nature is downplayed.





Calgary is a great city, but let's face it, it's not always the best at attracting the A-list. But, while there'll probably never be anything equivalent to the Grammys in Calgary, there are the CAT Awards. The award ceremony, taking place Saturday at the Rozza Centre, builds up the glitz and the glammer in order to celebrate the best in Calgary community theatre. The theme for this year's event is "The Cat Carnaval," and while masks are optional, formalwear is mandatory. Break out your tuxedo (that for some reason you own instead of rent) or your fancy ball gown and celebrate as if it's the Oscars.






As a rule, I generally enjoy anything with the word "fest" somewhere in the title. Especially with this year's Blues Festival, Reggae Festival, and Folk Festival, fests never seem to disappoint. So I've got high hopes for the Global FilmFest, which starts today. The focus of the festival is to showcase international documentaries from unique cultural perspectives. The idea is that re-framing of assumptions can open our minds. Today's first selection is Giovanni Attili's Where Strangers Become Neighbours, an exploration of negative reactions towards immigration and how they become positive in one Vancouver neighbourhood. Sounds truly heartwarming, deserving of the word "fest".





What's better to do on a Saturday than a street festival? Answer: nothing. I'm going to admit something to you. I love Chinese Food. With all of the authentic Chinese food available for such cheap prices, they'll have a hard time keeping me away from the Chinatown Street Festival this Saturday. But food isn't all they've got to offer. This is a celebration of everything Chinese: opera, singing, folk dancing, shopping, souvenirs, and a ton more. If you haven't been to Chinatown in a while, this is a good way to rekindle your love affair. What else are you going to do?





Is there a more summery music genre than reggae? It's impossible to listen to the island rhythms without immediately drifting away to a warm climate (at least in your mind). In Calgary, that's always a good thing. That's why of all the music festivals that Calgary has held this summer, ReggaeFest could take the cake. With a lineup that includes Mikey Dangerous, LJX, Maxi Priest, Jason Wilson, Steele, and many others, it's looking to be quite the week. ReggaeFest transpires from August 14 – August 16. I've got to hand it to Calgary music promoters, they've put together some stellar festivals this year.





Say what you will about the Calgary music scene, but the city has stepped it up this festival season. Aside from attracting big name artists like Tom Petty and Nine Inch Nails, Calgary has been the setting for some intriguing niche festivals. I don't have to tell you about the success of the Folk Festival; two weeks ago it was almost impossible to avoid. For punk rock (or at least emo) lovers, there's the Warped Tour. But for the grizzled purists, there's only one festival this summer: The Calgary International Blues Festival. Armed with a few dominant sevenths, some lyrics about heartbreak, and infinite variation, some of the biggest names in blues will turn the area outside the Pumphouse Theatre into an all out shitshow of power chords and harmonica. Legendary bands such as Canned Heat, Savoy Brown, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds will share a stage with more local up and comers like Steve Pineo and Ian Stewart. It all goes down from tonight until Sunday.





Calgary again smells like decks, trucks, and punk: it's Warped Tour time. The peripatetic annual carnival of three-chord loving bands and culture takes over Race City Speedway for a day of sweat, pick smashing, crowd surfing, and genre mish-mashing. For the last several years, Warped rosters have experienced a slight drop in punk. Thus, compensatory like-minded --though different sounding-- acts have scored spaces on the bill. This year, look for dashes of the dreaded pop-punk, hints of ska, flourishes of hip hop, accents of hardcore, and much, much more. Cobra Starship, Angels and Airwaves, Bedouin Soundclash and many, many others play the main stage.





If you've never been to the Fringe Festival, you're missing out my friend. It's like regular theatre, but much less pretentious and much more anarchic. From August 1 to August 10, 25 national and international productions are performed in total over 150 times. The festival is uncensored and unjuried, so it's a very mixed bag. You never know whether you're going to see the next smash hit or something uninspired a few friends put together. Taking your chances is part of the fun. Don't worry about wearing jeans; this is no upscale theatre experience, just a bunch of young playwrights trying to make it in The Biz. Some titles include "Pizza Girl and the Dark Enigma," "Pussy Sushi," and "Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical."





Trent Reznor and the boys (or girls, depending on who he decides to surround himself with that day) have been going strong since 1989. One of the few Industrial acts to cross-over into the mainstream, it's more than a little impressive that Nine Inch Nails have been able to stay there for 19 years. Reznor knows how to play the publicity game, even to this day. Adopting the Radiohead model, NIN's last two projects were released in close proximity and both as "Pay What You Want" projects available as an online download. Unfortunately, you won't be able to choose your own price for their performance at the Saddledome, but you will be able to see his tight band rock the rafters.





Cirque du Soleil's latest stage show is rolling into Calgary on Thursday for a month-long exhibition. If you haven't seen the Quebec company's pioneering stage show yet, it's worth seeing. It's all about spectacle here; rather than a circus freakshow, this is a display of grace and acrobatics. The plot of Corteo involves a clown picturing his own funeral, which for some reason takes place at a carnival as angels watch over him. You know what? The plot isn't so important. Have you ever seen Knocked Up? Do you remember the scene where Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd go to Cirque du Soleil in Vegas while on shrumes? I'm not suggesting anything (for liability purposes); I just thought we should all remember that scene.





The Calgary Folk Music Festival, which takes place this weekend, has many people very excited. But not everyone. See, while fans of acoustic guitars and pleasant melodies are gently swaying in Prince's Island Park, Calgary's metalheads will be headbanging, moshing, slamdancing, and biting the heads off bats. Ozzy Osbourne's Monsters of Rock Festival thrashes its way over to McMahon Stadium this weekend, boasting a lineup that will excite any lover of the loud stuff. The festival is headlined by Ozzy himself, but it’s the supporting cast that's so impressive: Judas Priest, Testament, Hatebreed, Shadows Fall, Serj Tankian and Voidod, just to name a few. Folk or metal, the choice is yours.





This Friday, Movies in the Plaza presents a free screening of the Kevin Spacey vehicle 21. The film, which tells the story of a Harvard student whose professor convinces him to play blackjack, was not much of a success, but this kind of shallow fun fits well for the setting. The entire event is given a Las Vegas theme. Therefore, expect all the allure of Vegas such as gambling and stage shows, but kid-friendly (which kind of destroys the point, but whatever). The best part, though, is that it all takes place outside. It's summer, damn it; if we're going to sit still for two hours, it better not be indoors!





Aside from the Stampede, what screams "summer in Calgary" louder than a folk music festival? Answer: not much. The Calgary Folk Music Festival features over 65 artists on 7 different stages. Most play several times over the festival in both official concerts and loose jams. Okay, sounds promising. What about the acts? Nothing to scoff at; that's for sure. Start with Bedouin Soundclash, Kingston, Ontario's sing-along friendly reggae roots rockers. Then add 20 year veterans Blue Rodeo, former Squirrel Nut Zipper Andrew Bird, Tex-Mexers Calexico, and chick-folker Ani DiFranco. You've got yourself quite a festival. Rounding out the lineup are artists as diverse as Great Lake Swimmers, Basia Bulat, Handsome Family, Aimee Mann, Conor Oberst, Los Straightjackets, Sam Roberts, the Weakerthans, and Josh Ritter. Very solid. So set up your tent, bring the kids, and get ready to gently sway.